Ligature

ABSTRACT

A ligature for a reed instrument has a pair of split bands provided with clamps mounted on the bands for bridging the splits thereof and permitting the bands to be tightened on a mouthpiece of a reed instrument. A web which forms a reed contacting face is connected to the bands at points thereof spaced from the clamps. This web is formed by a pair of back-to-back U-shaped members connected to the bands by projecting arms for producing a springlike effect of a reed nest thus formed. This arrangement permits the reed to be positioned in any desired location on a mouthpiece, while reducing the amount of the face of the ligature in contact with the reed.

United States Patent 1 1 Harrison 1 1 June 24, 1975 1 1 LIGATURE Primary Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin [76] Inventor: Robert L. Harrison, 204 Yarmouth 3 1' lrm clarence O Bnen;

Dr., Tiffin, Ohio 32730 Hmey Jacobson [22] Filed: June 12, 1974 Appl. No.: 478,729

57 a ABSTRACT v This web is formed by a pair of back-to-back U- shaped members connected to the bands by projecting arms for producing a spring-like effect of a 'reed nest thus formed. This arrangement permits the reed to be positioned in any desired location on a mouthpiece. while reducing the amount of the face of the ligature in contact with the reed.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 24 1975 Fig.

LIGATURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a ligature for reed instruments. and the like.

2. Description of the. Prior Art The reeds generally used with conventional reed instruments are commonly clamped to the mouthpiece of the instrument by a clamping device known as a ligature. US. Pat. No. 1,896,814. issued Feb. 7, 1933 to W. Gemeinhardt, shows an example of a conventional ligature in which the reed retaining face of the ligature is formed by the split portions of the bands which form the ligature and is immediately adjacent the clamps which tighten the bands onto an associated instrument mouthpiece. This known arrangement requires the ligature to be arranged in a single predetermined relationship with respect to the mouthpiece.

If the pressure of the ligature on the reed is too great, vibration of the reed, and consequently the sound emitted, is inhibited. If the pressure is insufficient, the reed will not be secure against the mouthpiece and will be, therefore, unplayable.

The following patents are also believed pertinent to this invention:

US. Pat. No. 1,410,066 G. V. Knopf Mar. 21,

US. Pat. No. 1,449,868 B. Miller Mar. 27,

US. Pat. No. 1,795,219 E. .I. Kingsbury Mar.

US. Pat. No. 2,200,054 G. M. Bundy, et al.

May 7, 1940 US. Pat. No. 3,267,791 C. L. Roberts Aug. 23,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a ligature for a reed instrument which is capable of holding a reed against the mouthpiece of the instrument in a manner which, although securely retaining the reed, permits the reed to vibrate and produce quality sound.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ligature which holds a reed in a spring-like manner.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a ligature which reduces the amount of ligature surface in contact with the reed when compared with conventional ligatures.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a ligature capable of being positioned in any desired location on a mouthpiece.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a ligature having: first and second split bands, each band having a pair of ends arranged forming a split; clamps mounted on the ends of the bands and arranged bridging the splits for drawing the ends of the bands toward and away from one another and permitting the bands to be tightened on and removed from a mouthpiece of a reed instrument; and a web connected to the bands at points thereof spaced from the clamps, the web being arranged forming a face for retainingly contacting a reed and holding the reed on an associated mouthpiece.

The web advantageously includes a pair of substan tially U-shaped members each having a bight portion and a pair of legs extending from the bight portion, the, members being connected together at the bight portion, with the legs of each of the members extending away from the legs of the other of the members and connected to a respective one of the bands.

Preferably, the bands each have a pair of further ends spaced from one another for forming a gap and the legs 1 of the U-shaped members are connected to the further ends. Further. the legs of the U-shaped members would terminate in arms located transversely to the extent of the legs and away from a plane of the web. These arms are affixed to the further ends of the bands for connecting the legs to the further ends and projecting the web from portions of the bands adjacent the web to form bulges on the bands. These bulges will also be referred to herein as reed nestsf These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, top plane view showing a ligature according to the present invention holdinga reed on the mouthpiece of a reed instrument.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, but drawn to a larger scale.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a ligature according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the ligature of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the legature of FIGS. 4 through 6, looking in the opposite direction as in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a reed 10 is held on a conventional mouthpiece 12 of a reed instrument, such as a clarinet 14, by a ligature 16 according to the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3 through 7 of the drawings, ligaturel6 is formed by a first split band 18 and a second split band 19. Each of these bands has a pair of ends 20 and 22 arranged forming a split 23. Clamps 24 are mounted on ends 20, 22 of bands 18, 19, and are arranged bridging the splits 23 for drawing the ends 20, 22 toward and away from one another and permitting the bands l8, 19 to be tightened on and removed from mouthpiece 12. A web 26 is connected to bands 18, 19 at points thereof spaced from, and advantageously from as illustrated, clamps 24. Web 26 is arranged for forming a face for retainingly contacting reed l0 and holding reed 10 on mouthpiece 12.

Web 26 includes a pair of substantially U-shaped members 28 and 30, each of which members has a bight portion 32 and a pair of legs 34 and 36 extending from bight portion 32 in generally common planes. Members 28, 30 are connected together at bight portions 32 thereof, with legs 34, 36 of each being arranged extending away from the legs 34, 36 of the other of the members and connected to a respective one of the bands l8, 19.

Bands 18, 19 each have a pair of further ends 38 and 40 spaced from one another for forming a gap. Legs 34, 36 are connected to these further ends 38, 40 by arms 42 which terminate the legs 34, 36 of members 28, 30.

' These arms 42 are located transversely to the extent of legs 34,36, andextend away from the parallel planes of the web 26. In this manner, arms 42 are arranged for projecting web 26 away from portions of bands 18, 19 adjacent web 26 to form bulges on the bands 18, 19.

Clamps 24 include two pairs of collars 44 and 46, with each pair of collars associated with a respective band 18, 19 and each collar of a pair mounted on a respective end of the associated band l8, 19. These collars 44, 46 are each provided with an aperture 48 and 50 having internal screw threads. Conventional wing screws 52, and the like, may be threadingly engaged into apertures 48 and 50 for drawing'the collars 44, 46 toward and away from one another. A bridge 54 may ing ligature 16. I 7

As will be readily understood from the above description and from the drawings,a ligature according to the present invention will provide sufficient pressure to keep a reed l secure, but because of the design of web 26, allows reed to vibrate more freely, thereby considerably enhancing the ensuing sound.

1 The shape'of a ligaturevl6 is such that it conforms to the shape of a mouthpiece l2 and of reed 10. This conformation helps insure that reed 10 can be more easily positioned on mouthpiece l2, and that, when once positioned, it will be lesslikely to shift from side to side.

The design of the face of a ligature according to the present invention has two distinct advantages: (1) it allows a very small portion of the ligature to come into contact with the reed; and (2) it produces a spring-like effect when it is positioned on a mouthpiece 12.

Large adjustments to the diameter of a ligature 16 are produced by adjusting screws 52. The final adjustment is madeby positioning ligature 16 farther down on mouthpiece 12. As ligature 16 is moved down mouthpiece 12, the configuration of web 26 allows enlargement in two places. Specifically, the enlargement occurs between the pairs of legs 34 and 36. Study of FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings reveals indentations designated 56 that are designed to help cause a spring-like effect in..ligature 16. As ligature l6 enlarges, it will behavein much the same manner as does a spring when it is stretched. This allows the player (not shown) of a reed instrument using ligature 16 to minutely adjust the pressure on the reed of the instrument to match that which he considers ideal.

At leasttwo different models of ligature 16 may be required to fit various kinds of reed instruments. One of the models may have a "short face (FIG. 1) formed by web 26, while the other would have what is referred to as a longer face (FIG. 7). Both of these models would be built to achieve the same results, with the difference between the two being basically the amount of ophone; E-flat baritone saxophone; B-flat bass clarinet; E-flat alto clarinet; E-flat contra-bass clarinet; and B- flat contra-bass clarinet. The diameter of the ligature is to be adjusted to the size of the mouthpiece being considercd, and the face of the ligature is to be proportional to the size of the reed of the individual instrument as, compared with that of a B-flat clarinet. Since those skilled in the use of reed instruments would know which size face to use with what reed, this selection will not be discussed herein.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occurto those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope 2 be provided adjacent the clamps 24 for further 'rigidifyof the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ligature for a reed instrument, comprising, in

spaced from the clamp means, the web arranged forming a face for retainingly contacting a reed and holding the reed on the mouthpiece, the web including a pair of substantially U-shaped members each having a bight portion and-a pair of legs extending codirectionally from the bight portion, the members being connected together at the bight portions thereof, with the legs of each of the members extending away from the legs of the other of the members and connected to a respective one of the bands, corresponding legs of each U-shaped member being arranged in common planes.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the clamp means includes two pairs of collars, each pair of collars associated with a respective band, each collar of a pair'mounted on a respective end of the associated band and being provided with an aperture having internal screw threads, and wherein the clamp means further includes wing screws threadingly engaged in the apertures.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the bands each has a pair of further ends spaced for forming a gap, and the legs of the U-shaped members are connected to the further ends.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the legs of the U-shaped members terminate in arms oriented transversely to the extent of the legs and away from a plane of the web, the arms being affixed to the further ends for connecting the legs to the further ends and being arranged for projecting the web from portions of the bands adjacent the web to form bulges on the bands, these bulges forming reed nests.

5. In combination with a reed and a mouthpiece of a reed instrument, a liga tjure comprising, in combinatron: I i.

a'. first and second split bands, each band having a pair of endsarranged forminga split;

a web connected to the bands at points thereof b. clamp means mounted on the ends of thebands and arranged bridging the splits for drawing the ends of the bands toward and away from one another and permitting the bands to be tightened on and removed from the mouthpiece; and c. a web connected to the bands at points thereof spaced from'the clamp means, the web arranged forming a face for retainingly contacting the reed- I holding the reed: on the mouthpiece, the web includinga pair'ofsubstan'tially-U-shaped members 7 'f each havingl a bight portion and aipairiof legs ex tending codirectionally from the b'ight portion, the

' 1 I members being connected together with the bight portionsthereof, withthe legs of each of the mem-' bers extending away from the legs of the other of the members and connected to a respective oneof the bands, corresponding legs of each U-shaped member being arranged in common planes.

6. A structure as defined in claim .5, wherein the bands each has a pair of further ends spaced for forming a gap, and the Iegsof the U-shaped members are connected to the further ends. 7

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the legs of the U-shaped members terminate in arms oriented I transversely to the extent of the legs and away from a plane of the web, the arms being affixed to the further ends for connecting the legs to the further ends and being arranged for projecting the web from portions of i the bandsadjacentthe web to form bulges on the in the 

1. A ligature for a reed instrument, comprising, in combination: a. first and second split bands, each of these bands having a pair of ends arranged forming a split; b. clamp means mounted on the ends of the bands and arranged bridging the splits for drawing the ends of the bands toward and away from one another and permitting the bands to be tightened on and removed from a mouthpiece of a reed instrument; and c. a web connected to the bands at points thereof spaced from the clamp means, the web arranged forming a face for retainingly contacting a reed and holding the reed on the mouthpiece, the web including a pair of substantially U-shaped members each having a bight portion and a pair of legs extending codirectionally from the bight portion, the members being connected together at the bight portions thereof, with the legs of each of the members extending away from the legs of the other of the members and connected to a respective one of the bands, corresponding legs of each U-shaped member being arranged in common planes.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the clamp means includes two pairs of collars, each pair of collars associated with a respective band, each collar of a pair mounted on a respective end of the associated band and being provided with an aperture having internal screw threads, and wherein the clamp means further includes wing screws threadingly engaged in the apertures.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the bands each has a pair of further ends spaced for forming a gap, and the legs of the U-shaped members are connected to the further ends.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the legs of the U-shaped members terminate in arms oriented transversely to the extent of the legs and away from a plane of the web, the arms being affixed to the further ends for connecting the legs to the further ends and being arranged for projecting the web from portions of the bands adjacent the web to form bulges on the bands, these bulges forming reed nests.
 5. In combination with a reed and a mouthpiece of a reed instrument, a ligature, comprising, in combination: a. first and second split bands, each band having a pair of ends arranged forming a split; b. clamp means mounted on the ends of the bands and arranged bridging the splits for drawing the ends of the bands toward and away from one another and permitting the bands to be tightened on and removed from the mouthpiece; and c. a web connected to the bands at points thereof spaced from the clamp means, the web arranged forming a face for retainingly contacting the reed and holding the reed on the mouthpiece, the web including a pair of substantially U-shaped members each having a bight portion and a pair of legs extending codirectionally from the bight portion, the members being connected together with the bight portions thereof, with the legs of each of the members extending away from the legs of the other of the members and connected to a respective one of the bands, corresponding legs of each U-shaped member being arranged in common planes.
 6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the bands each has a pair of further ends spaced for forming a gap, and the legs of the U-shaped members are connected to the further ends.
 7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the legs of the U-shaped members terminate in arms oriented transversely to the extent of the legs and away from a plane of the web, the arms being affixed to the further ends for connecting the legs to the further ends and being arranged for projecting the web from portions of the bands adjacent the web to form bulges on the bands, these bulges forming reed nests.
 8. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the clamp means includes two pairs of collars, each pair of collars associated with a respective band, each collar of a pair mounted on a respective end of the associated band and being provided with an aperture having internal screw threads, and wherein the clamp means further includes wing screws threaDingly engaged in the apertures. 